Difficult Times Under Difficult Circumstances

While [Joseph and Mary] were [in Bethlehem], the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son.  She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

--Luke 2:6-7

New International Version

 

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE

I've always been amazed at how God chose to place his Son into our world.  He could have done it any way he wanted.  But he chose this way -- to enter the world in difficult times under difficult circumstances as a helpless infant who must be cared for by parents who were vulnerable to so many frailties. Yet in spite of the challenges that lay ahead and the bewildering mystery that confronted them:  Joseph and Mary, along with everyone around them, were caught up in the great joy this new child gave.

MY PRAYER

Give me a heart of faith, O God, so that I might always see your sovereignty and grace being poured out on me in special ways.  I am thrilled that you, the Creator and Sustainer of the entire universe, chose to enter my world as a child.  Thank you for trusting your wonderful salvation to human flesh so we could know that you deemed us worthy of entering our world to make us right for yours.  Through Jesus.  Amen.

BE STILL AND KNOW

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

“Be still, and know that I am God...”

(Psalm 46:10, NIV)

TODAY’S WORD

In our culture, most people are used to having constant activity: computers, cell phones, television, email, video games. There’s nothing wrong with any of that, but the Bible tells us that we need to stop and be still so we can focus on knowing God. I’ve found this to be true especially during the difficult times. When you are facing a challenge, it’s easy to want to run to a friend or talk about it with a co-worker. But at some point, you have to stop and say, “God, I rest in You. I know You have me in the palm of Your hand.”

Remember, our battles are spiritual battles. The people in your life aren’t the source of your problems, the forces of darkness are. When you choose to be still and know that the Greater One lives on the inside of you, you are putting yourself in a position of strength. So today, take time to be still before Him. Let His peace cover you. Let Him refresh you by His Spirit. Remember, the battles you face belong to the Lord. Be still before Him so you can see His hand of victory in every area of your life!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father in heaven, I humbly come before You. I choose to be still before You. Speak to my heart so I can know You more. Fill me with Your peace as I put my trust in You in Jesus’ name. Amen.

By: Joel Osteen

source:

http://thisweekwiththekids.blogspot.com/2011/12/christmas-raw-and-simple-but-powerful.html

http://meagen-closerwalk.blogspot.com/2011/01/luke-26-7.html

http://ww2.joelosteen.com/Pages/MessageViewer.aspx?date=2012-11-19

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Jayson Cabrera Gali

Blogs:  http://spiritual12food.blogspot.com/

             http://healthhelpbyjeck.blogspot.com/

Find me on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jayson.gali 

Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeckyL214

P.S.

I sincerely want to improve my blog, so I can serve you better. I would like to hear from you, please leave your comments at the bottom of this page. And if you find this very helpful don’t forget to share it to your friends and loved ones.

"Do not be afraid, you have found favor with God"

The angel said to [Mary], "Do not be afraid, you have found favor with God.  You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.  He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.  The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever."

--Luke 1:30-33

New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE

Jesus is identified by many names stated or implied in the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John). Notice how Jesus is identified in just this one passage:  child, son, Jesus, great, Son  of the Most High, King, son of David, and leader of Israel (Jacob).  Jesus exhausts all descriptions, and yet chose to be limited to imperfect descriptions by becoming human.  But this flood of names and descriptions helps us find Jesus a Savior in every trial and blessing of life.  Jesus is Savior for all seasons.

MY PRAYER

Holy and Almighty Father, I thank you for all the ways Jesus is described and all the names he is given. They help me see the breadth of his nature and the depth of his character. Please bless me so I may always find a dimension of Jesus' ministry or a name or description of Jesus to help sustain me, when I walk through the shadows of doubt caused by the evil one.  Help me, O Father, to see Jesus and not my preoccupations and biases so that when he comes again, I will know him, and he me.  Through the glorious name of the Savior I pray.  Amen.

No More Hiding

Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?”

Genesis 3:9

           

After Adam and Eve fell into sin, they heard the sound of the Lord walking in the garden. What did they do? They hid themselves from His presence.

There is something God wants us to learn here about sin-consciousness: It makes us hide from Him when He actually wants to hang out with us. It makes us feel like we’ve fallen off His radar. It makes us feel afraid of Him when the safest and most comforting place in the world is in His presence.

Adam was sin-conscious. He said to God, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself” (Genesis 3:10). Now, this nakedness was not just physical. Adam saw himself unworthy of God. He was aware of his sin. He never had this awareness before. Prior to his act of disobedience, when God came into the garden, he would hang out with God without any sense of uncleanness. Then, he became conscious of his sin and ran away from God’s presence.

Beloved, God wants to hang out with you. But you can’t have an intimate relationship with Him when you are sin-conscious and feeling unworthy in His presence. The good news is that Jesus’ blood has removed all your sins and made you righteous. And God is so pleased with His Son’s sacrifice that He will by no means remember your sins (Hebrews 10:17). So come out of your hiding place and hang out boldly with God. It’s in His presence that you are empowered, refreshed and recharged. It’s in His presence that you receive from Him!

By: Joseph Prince

source:

http://www.tenthdotministries.com/tag/christmas/

http://scripture-for-today.blogspot.com/2012/03/luke-157-80-all-who-heard-them-laid-up.html

http://us2.campaign-archive1.com/?u=a150d1f30f96378c872f47725&id=8f7ddc2a27&e=b2763b1d9a

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Jayson Cabrera Gali

Blogs:  http://spiritual12food.blogspot.com/

             http://healthhelpbyjeck.blogspot.com/

Find me on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jayson.gali 

Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeckyL214

P.S.

I sincerely want to improve my blog, so I can serve you better. I would like to hear from you, please leave your comments at the bottom of this page. And if you find this very helpful don’t forget to share it to your friends and loved ones.

"Greetings, you who are highly favored!

God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David.  The virgin's name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you."

--Luke 1:26-28

New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE

Wow!  Such a familiar sentence packed with emotion.   An angel comes to Nazareth to visit and speak with a young woman engaged to be married. Before the history-shattering news is announced, she is given one key reminder that will be truer than she could imagine, "The Lord is with you."

MY PRAYER

My request, O God, I've sung many times:  "Be with me Lord, I cannot live without Thee.  I cannot bear to take one step alone."  Father, I need your abiding presence to face the challenges of life.  As you have upheld your children through the ages, I am thankful to greet each day knowing that I will not face it alone.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

His Grace Never Ceases

The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is His faithfulness…

Lamentations 3:22–23, NLT

           

Placing a handful of tokens onto the arcade game machine that my little Jessica was completely engrossed in, I said to her, “Jessica, once the game is ending, just put in another token, alright?” She was only three years old then, but certainly understood well enough how to keep on inserting new tokens to keep the game going.

It was fun watching her enjoy the game. Her eyes would light up and her dimples would show, especially when she was winning. As her father, seeing her happy made me happy, so I kept watch to ensure that she had sufficient tokens to keep the game going. Once they ran low, I would rush to the counter to get a new stack of tokens. So Jessica’s daddy kept supplying more tokens while she simply kept enjoying the game.

Beloved, if an earthly father can do this for his daughter for a simple arcade game, how much more will our heavenly Father, who loves us and delights in seeing us blessed, do to provide for us!

By: Joseph Prince

source:

http://dialoguewithgod.bigcartel.com/product/christmas-luke-1-26-45-mary-elizabeth

http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/Advent/annunciation.html

http://us2.campaign-archive2.com/?u=a150d1f30f96378c872f47725&id=a7b8fa815f&e=b2763b1d9a

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Jayson Cabrera Gali

Blogs:  http://spiritual12food.blogspot.com/

             http://healthhelpbyjeck.blogspot.com/

Find me on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jayson.gali 

Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeckyL214

P.S.

I sincerely want to improve my blog, so I can serve you better. I would like to hear from you, please leave your comments at the bottom of this page. And if you find this very helpful don’t forget to share it to your friends and loved ones.

Results of Relentless Pursuit

Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Matthew 6:33

New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE

Seek -- pursue relentlessly -- God's Lordship over your life and the righteousness it demands in your daily life. What you pursue is all temporary; only God and his Kingdom remain. In the process, you will find that the God who gives you his Kingdom and righteousness also will bless you with the things that you need in this life

MY PRAYER

Holy Lord, only in you do I find what satisfies my soul's desires. The things that have captured my eye are boring after only a short while. The artificial things I have pursued, all of my addictive pursuits, have left me empty and enslaved. I find hope and help only in you. Please be near to love, correct, discipline, lead, and mold me to your glory. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Always Remember You Are God’s Beloved

And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.”

Luke 3:22

Immediately after Jesus was baptized, He was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. The devil came to Jesus and said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread” (Matthew 4:3). Now, don’t forget that Jesus had just heard the voice of His Father affirming Him with the words “You are My beloved Son.” Years ago, as I was studying Jesus’ temptations by the devil, the Lord asked me, “Did you notice that the devil dropped one word when he came to tempt My Son?”

I had never heard anyone preach this before or read this in any book, but God opened my eyes to see that the devil had omitted the word “beloved”! God had just told Jesus, “You are My beloved Son.” But shortly after that, the devil came to Jesus, saying, “If You are the Son of God…” The word “beloved” is missing! The serpent had cunningly left it out!

The Lord then showed me that for the devil’s temptations to work, he cannot remind you that you are God’s beloved. The moment you are reminded of your identity as God’s beloved in Christ, he will not be able to succeed! It’s no wonder that the devil wants to rob believers of their sense of being God’s beloved. So don’t fall for the devil’s trick. Remind yourself today and every day that you are God’s beloved!

By:Joseph Prince

source:

http://kaleidoscopeworld.multiply.com/video/item/40

http://www.gointl.org/english/?p=298
http://us2.campaign-archive2.com/?u=a150d1f30f96378c872f47725&id=35fb365720&e=b2763b1d9a

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Jayson Cabrera Gali

Blogs:  http://spiritual12food.blogspot.com/

             http://healthhelpbyjeck.blogspot.com/

Find me on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jayson.gali 

Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeckyL214

P.S. 

I sincerely want to improve my blog, so I can serve you better. I would like to hear from you, please leave your comments at the bottom of this page. And if you find this very helpful don’t forget to share it to your friends and loved ones.

Benefit of Perseverance

We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.

Romans 5:3-4

New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE

I remember the old Corrie ten Boom line, "Thank God for the fleas." The fleas kept the German soldiers out of the barracks in the concentration camp where she was imprisoned. This allowed her to minister and visit with those who were being persecuted. There she could show and share Jesus.

MY PRAYER

Mighty God, I confess that I get impatient and frustrated with difficulty, pain, and suffering. Please give me more compassion and a better listening ear, so that I may bless those who need love and grace. Through Jesus I ask it. Amen.

CHARACTERISTICS OF LOVE

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

“Now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”

(1 Corinthians 13:13, NIV)

TODAY’S WORD

Spiritual maturity isn’t measured by how long you’ve been a Christian, how much you know, or how often you go to church. Spiritual maturity is measured by the way you treat other people. It’s measured by the love you allow to operate through you. First Corinthians 13 tells us about the characteristics of love. One characteristic is that it is not rude. That means, when we are walking in love, we treat other people with courtesy and respect. Are you courteous to other people? Are you kind to the person at the checkout counter that may be moving too slowly for you? Are you gentle when you are driving down the highway and someone cuts you off? Are you patient with your family and coworkers? These are all ways we show love.

Scripture also tells us that love is patient. It is kind. It does not envy; it is not proud. It is not rude. Love is not easily angered, and it keeps no record of wrongs. Love never fails. Notice that these characteristics don’t have anything to do with feelings. That’s because love is a choice. You can choose to walk in love toward people even when you don’t feel like it. Today, make the choice to do what is right. Choose today to show kindness and be courteous to others. Look for ways to cultivate the greatest thing in your life — love! As you do, you’ll move forward into the life of blessing God has in store for you!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, thank You for loving me so that I can show love to others. Teach me to be patient and kind and treat others the way You always treat me in Jesus’ name. Amen.

— Joel & Victoria Osteen

source:

http://www.thephilfiles.com/2009/02/25/perseverance/

http://www.cbcbentonville.com/

http://www.joelosteen.com/Pages/Index.aspx

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Jayson Cabrera Gali

Blogs:  http://spiritual12food.blogspot.com/

             http://healthhelpbyjeck.blogspot.com/

Find me on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jayson.gali 

Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeckyL214

P.S. 

I sincerely want to improve my blog, so I can serve you better. I would like to hear from you, please leave your comments at the bottom of this page. And if you find this very helpful don’t forget to share it to your friends and loved ones.

What Can Sustain You Eternally?

Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"

Matthew 4:4

New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE

Like Esau, we get so diverted by the mundane things of life, the growling of our bellies, we forget the longer-range view of things. God's word, his written word the Bible, his demonstrated Word in Jesus, and his proclaimed word in the Gospel, are what can sustain us eternally.

MY PRAYER

True and Faithful God, through your Holy Spirit create in me a hunger for your word that is much more demanding of life than my hunger for food. I confess that at times I have been distracted by the mundane things of life and have not sought your word and have not nourished my soul. Please forgive me as I pledge myself to be more attentive to your leading and your truth through your word. Through Jesus I pray. Amen.

MAKE THE LORD YOUR TRUST

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

“Blessed is that man who makes the LORD his trust...”

(Psalm 40:4, NKJV)

TODAY’S WORD

Did you know that trusting in the Lord is a decision we make just like we choose anything else in life? You chose what you are wearing today, you probably chose what you would have for breakfast, and you can choose to trust God every day, too! When you choose to trust God, there is peace that settles in your heart. There is joy because you know the outcome, and there is blessing in store for you because your hope is sure.

No matter what you are facing in life today, trust that Almighty God will come through for you. Trust that His Word is always true. In Psalm 32, David calls God his “hiding place.” In other words, when you place your trust in God, you can find refuge in Him. You are actually hidden from the enemy when you choose to trust.

Always remember, when circumstances seem overwhelming, don’t look at what’s happening around you; look to God. He is the author and finisher of your faith. Choose to trust that He is the one who is ordering your steps. Find security in knowing that He is making your crooked places straight and your rough places smooth. Trust in Him and live in the blessing and everlasting life He has prepared for you!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father in heaven, today I choose to put my trust in You. I know You are a good and faithful God, and I trust that You have my best interest at heart. Help me stay focused on Your goodness today in Jesus’ name. Amen.

— Joel & Victoria Osteen

source:

http://ymiblogging.org/2011/08/odbthrow-the-book-at-him/

http://www.sethbarnes.com/?filename=man-does-not-live-on-bread-alone

http://www.joelosteen.com/Pages/Index.aspx

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Jayson Cabrera Gali

Blogs:  http://spiritual12food.blogspot.com/

             http://healthhelpbyjeck.blogspot.com/

Find me on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jayson.gali 

Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeckyL214

P.S.

I sincerely want to improve my blog, so I can serve you better. I would like to hear from you, please leave your comments at the bottom of this page. And if you find this very helpful don’t forget to share it to your friends and loved ones.

Investment without Lasting Profit

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. (Spoken by Jesus.)

Matthew 24:35

New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE

What do you have that will last? Not much -- the love you have for God and his children, the praise you offer him, and the Word he has spoken to use through his Spirit, the prophets, and his Son, Jesus. Invest in these things and you will never be without lasting profit!

MY PRAYER

Eternal God and loving Father, give me wisdom to discern what is truly lasting and invest my life in those things that will never suffer decay. Thank you for sending Jesus to teach me truth that will last. I want to be obedient to his words and his life. Bless me in ways that help me live a life that is true. Through Jesus, my eternal Savior I pray. Amen.

REST IN HOPE

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

“Therefore my heart rejoiced, and my tongue was glad; moreover my flesh also will rest in hope”

(Acts 2:26, NKJV)

TODAY’S WORD

So many people today live with stress, anxiety, pressure and worry, but that’s not God’s plan for your life. He wants you to live in peace, confidence and rest in hope. Think about that for a moment. How can you rest in hope? It’s sort of like when you’re watching the replay of your favorite ball game. You already know the outcome. You don’t have to worry about what’s happening, you just enjoy the plays. The same is true in life. When we know God’s Word, when we obey His commands, then we know the outcome for life. We know that He is always for our good. We know that He has plans to prosper us, not to harm us!

Today’s scripture tells us what to do while we are waiting to see His promises come to pass — we should let our tongue be glad. In other words, we should be speaking the victory. We should be declaring His goodness. We should be filled with His joy. When your mouth is aligned with God’s Word, when your heart rejoices, then you can rest in hope knowing that victory is on the way!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father God, thank You for victory that overcomes the world. Thank You for giving me hope in my final outcome. I choose to cast my cares on You today, I choose to rejoice, I choose to speak Your Word as I celebrate the good things You have in store for me in Jesus’ name! Amen.

— Joel & Victoria Osteen

source:

http://www.signil.com/

http://www.tunisia-live.net/2012/02/22/whats-preventing-foreign-direct-investment-in-tunisia/

http://www.joelosteen.com/Pages/Index.aspx

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Jayson Cabrera Gali

Blogs:  http://spiritual12food.blogspot.com/

             http://healthhelpbyjeck.blogspot.com/

Find me on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jayson.gali 

Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeckyL214

P.S.

I sincerely want to improve my blog, so I can serve you better. I would like to hear from you, please leave your comments at the bottom of this page. And if you find this very helpful don’t forget to share it to your friends and loved ones.

United In Mind And Thought

I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.

1 Corinthians 1:10

New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...

For churches to get along, sometimes their leaders must remind them about unity, using the authority of the One who made his dying prayer a prayer for unity. We must work together or perish.

MY PRAYER...

Lord Jesus, you have presented so many of my prayers to our Father, but today, I want to thank you for loving me so. I promise that I will do all I can, to the glory of our Father, to live at peace and serve those who belong to you. By your name and through the blessed Holy Spirit I pray. Amen.

Live Forward

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

“...I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead”

(Philippians 3:13, NLT)

TODAY’S WORD

Have you made the decision to forget the past? Many people don’t fully understand what that means. They wonder, “How can I forget something that’s happened to me?” But one definition of the word forget is to disregard intentionally or to overlook. In other words, you have to choose to disregard your past so that it doesn’t keep you from moving forward. That means the good and the bad. Sometimes our past victories keep us from rising higher as much as past failures. If we don’t let go of the old, we’ll never be able to embrace the new.

It doesn’t matter what’s happened in your history, it’s time to forget what lies behind. Today, make the choice live forward. Trust that God has a better future in store for you. Trust that He’s working behind the scenes on your behalf. As you forget what lies behind and press forward, you’ll move forward. You’ll see increase and blessing and live the abundant life He has in store for you!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father in heaven, today I choose to forget the past. I don’t want anything to hold me back from what You have in store for my future. I choose forgiveness. I choose peace. Help me, by Your Spirit, to press forward into the life of blessing You have for me in Jesus’ name. Amen.

— Joel & Victoria Osteen

source:

http://depositphotos.com/3791972/stock-photo-People-unity.html

http://www.unitycitrusheights.org/

http://www.joelosteen.com/Pages/Index.aspx